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FIRST LOOK, BOOK EXCERPT: “An Unprecedented Look at Stuxnet, the World’s First Digital Weapon ” by Kim Zetter, Wired: “In January 2010, inspectors with the International Atomic Energy Agency visiting the Natanz uranium enrichment plant in Iran noticed that centrifuges used to enrich uranium gas were failing at an unprecedented rate. The cause was a complete mystery—apparently as much to the Iranian technicians replacing the centrifuges as to the inspectors observing them. Five months later a seemingly unrelated event occurred. A computer security firm in Belarus was called in to troubleshoot a series of computers in Iran that were crashing and rebooting repeatedly. Again, the cause of the problem was a mystery. That is, until the researchers found a handful of malicious files on one of the systems and discovered the world’s first digital weapon. Stuxnet, as it came to be known, was unlike any other virus or worm that came before. Rather than simply hijacking targeted computers or stealing information from them, it escaped the digital realm to wreak physical destruction on equipment the computers controlled.”

“Countdown to Zero Day: Stuxnet and the Launch of the World’s First Digital Weapon, written by WIRED senior staff writer Kim Zetter, tells the story behind Stuxnet’s planning, execution and discovery. In this excerpt from the book, which will be released November 11, Stuxnet has already been at work silently sabotaging centrifuges at the Natanz plant for about a year… As Iran prepares for its presidential elections, the attackers behind Stuxnet are also preparing their next assault on the enrichment plant with a new version of the malware. They unleash it just as the enrichment plant is beginning to recover from the effects of the previous attack. Their weapon this time is designed to manipulate computer systems made by the German firm Siemens that control and monitor the speed of the centrifuges. Because the computers are air-gapped from the internet, however, they cannot be reached directly by the remote attackers. So the attackers have designed their weapon to spread via infected USB flash drives. To get Stuxnet to its target machines, the attackers first infect computers belonging to five outside companies that are believed to be connected in some way to the nuclear program. The aim is to make each “patient zero” an unwitting carrier who will help spread and transport the weapon on flash drives into the protected facility and the Siemens computers. Although the five companies have been referenced in previous news reports, they’ve never been identified. Four of them are identified in this excerpt.” [Wired]

“Is there a problem between Israel and the Democratic Party?” A visit with Congressman John Yarmuth (D-KY) by Shmuel Rosner, Jewish Journal: “He is not as shy today when I ask him about Israel, and he has visited twice more in recent years – once with an AIPAC (the America Israel Public Affairs Committee) delegation and once with the left-leaning J Street (the self proclaimed pro-Israel, pro-peace organization) of which he is a supporter. Yarmuth says the two tours presented him with starkly different realities. And he doesn’t say this to compliment AIPAC – the problem with AIPAC he says, is that “whatever it does it goes one step too far”. The legislation and the letters of support “demand nothing of Israel” and demand everything “from the Palestinians”. The tours are also too one sided. “Democratic legislators would not tell you on the record what they really think about AIPAC”, he says, “they are afraid”.” [Jewish Journal]

STARTUP NATION: Yoav Zurel’s FeeX sheds light on mutual fund fees [Crain’s] • Israeli company Webydo’s code-free website builder now generates pixel-perfect responsive sites [The Next Web] • Gigya: Israel’s next $1 billion startup? [Haaretz]

BUSINESS BRIEFS: Billionaire Len Blavatnik’s Lyondell Basell Trade Looks A Little Less Great After Oil Price Drop [Forbes] • Barry Rosenstein’s Jana Partners & Jeffrey Altman’s Owl Creek among hedge funds suffering significant losses this quarter. [NYPost]

Can the man who reformed Israel’s cellular industry do the same for its banks?: “Former Minister Moshe Kahlon won a name for himself by boosting competition in the cellular industry… As communications minister, he was successful in boosting competition in the cellular service sector, which in turn drove down prices. Customers who at one point were paying between 600 shekels and 700 shekels ($160 to $185) per month are now paying no more than 100 shekels ($26). At this time, as plans are afoot for a new party headed by Kahlon that would have a platform highlighting his experience opening up the cellular market, he has set his sights on the banking sector…Though the challenges are far more substantial than Kahlon has previously faced, the rewards of victory — which could affect economic growth, allocation of resources and, of course, our pension accounts — could far outshine his cellular success.” [Haaretz]

REAL ESTATE ROUNDUP: Gary Barnett-led Extell to build 23-story building on Third Avenue [Real Deal] • Joseph and Meyer Chetrit and Miami developer Ari Pearl score big loan for Tides South Beach [Real Deal]

RALPH LAUREN AT 75: “The designer – who many see as the creator of classic modern American style – has truly stamped his mark on the fashion world, and his success has seen the brand grow stronger with every new venture. But life wasn’t always a wealthy one for Lauren. Born Ralph Lifshitz in New York’s Bronx, he was far from living the luxury lifestyle he currently enjoys….From a young age, Lauren showed signs of being both fashion and business minded, selling ties to fellow students at high school and spending his profits and pocket money on suits that set him out from the crowd. Changing his name to Lauren at the age of 16 was not to deny his Jewish roots, Ralph says, but to stop other kids making fun of him.” [BAustralia]

“Recalling Anne Frank, as Icon and Human Being” by Joseph Berger, NY Times: “Eva Schloss, a playmate of Anne Frank’s in Amsterdam whose mother later married Anne’s father, recalls an 11-year-old who hopscotched, shot marbles, gossiped and talked so much her friends nicknamed her “Miss Quack Quack.” Anne also had an intense interest in clothing, boys and Hollywood stars like Deanna Durbin. “When I told her I had an older brother, she said: ‘Oooh. I must come to your apartment and meet him.’ ” Anne was a lively girl who could be something of “a busybody,” Monica Smith said about her young second cousin — and she often had ink stains on her slender fingers. “She was a writer,” said Mrs. Smith, who also remembered that Anne had a generous streak: “She would bring me peanuts. We were not choosy in those days.”” [NYT]

“Q&A with Jay Parker, owner of Ben’s Best Kosher Delicatessen” by Lisa Fraser, AM New York: “Jay Parker didn’t think he’d be in the family business, but 35 years ago he took over this well-known Kosher deli from this father. At 96-40 Queens Blvd., Ben’s Best takes pride in their hand-made pastramis and corn beef and in their reputation as a go-to spot for dining in, taking out and catering. “We’re deli history,” Parker said. “That’s why we’re still here. It’s a unique product and if you like the product you can only get it in one place.” Two years ago the deli was featured on The Food Network’s “Diner’s Drive-Ins and Dives” show and will soon be featured again in an upcoming documentary, “Deli Man.”” [AMNY]

BIRTHDAYS: F*** Cancer Founder and CEO Yael Cohen turns 28… Israeli Minister of Finance Yair Lapid turns 51

That’s all folks; have a great day!